Sensory Pathway Exam Questions

Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System 1) The term general senses refers to sensitivity to all of the following, except A) temperature. B) taste. C) touch. D) vibration. E) pain. 2) The sensory receptors, neurons and pathways make up the ________ division of the nervous system. A) voluntary B) efferent C) afferent D) involuntary E) somatic 3) The general senses A) involve receptors that are relatively simple in structure. B) are located in specialized structures called sense organs. C) are localized to specific areas of the body. D) cannot generate action potentials. E) include taste and smell. 4) The ________ nervous system carries impulses to skeletal muscles. A) somatic B) sympathetic C) parasympathetic D) afferent E) autonomic 5) The heart muscle is a ________ effector. A) somatic B) sympathetic C) visceral D) afferent E) higher-order 6) The conversion of the stimulus into an action potential to be interpreted by the brain is called A) transformation. B) transduction. C) translation. D) transcription. E) transpotential. 7) Gustatory receptors are sensitive to dissolved chemicals but insensitive to light. This is due to A) receptor specificity. B) accessory cells. C) the fact that they are interoceptors. D) receptor potentials. E) receptor speciation. 8) Using the two-point discrimination test you can fairly accurately determine whether you have been touched with one point or two because of the density of the A) effectors. B) perception. C) labeled line. D) receptor fields. E) action potential. 9) General sense receptors are typically the A) dendrites of motor neurons. B) dendrites of sensory neurons. C) axons of motor neurons. D) axons of sensory neurons. E) cell bodies of sensory neurons. 10) Your brain is not constantly bombarded with signals telling it that you are wearing socks. This is because the touch receptors around your ankle are A) tonic receptors. B) tonic receptors and slow-adapting. C) phasic receptors and slow-adapting. D) phasic receptors and fast-adapting. E) nociceptors. 11) Which is an example of a slow-adapting receptor? A) phasic B) touch C) smell D) temperature E) pain 12) In order for a sensation to become a perception, A) it must be received by the somatosensory cortex. B) the individual must vocalize about it. C) it must arrive over fast-conducting nerve fibers. D) the other senses must be silent. E) it must be received by the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus. 13) All of the following can contribute to receptor specificity except A) the structure of the receptor cell. B) characteristics of the receptor cell membrane. C) accessory cells that function with the receptor. D) accessory structures and tissues that shield the receptors from other stimuli. E) the metabolism of the receptor cell. 14) Central adaptation refers to A) the decline in activity of peripheral receptors when stimulated. B) a characteristic of phasic receptors. C) inhibition of nuclei located along a sensory pathway. D) increases in conscious perception of a sensory stimulus. E) a change in motor receptivity of a neuron. 15) A receptor potential may cause all of the following responses except A) increase neurotransmitter release. B) decrease neurotransmitter release. C) cause hyperpolarization. D) cause depolarization. E) turning off the original stimulus. 16) Peripheral adaptation ________ the number of action potentials that reach the CNS. A) decreases B) increases C) stabilizes D) neutralizes E) amplifies 17) Which of the following statements is true about general senses? A) They are distributed all over the body. B) They are all mechanoreceptors. C) All receptors involved in general sensation consist of free nerve endings. D) They are located in sense organs. E) The reception of the stimulus occurs slowly with these receptors. 18) Sensory encoding of the perceived location of a stimulus depends on A) the frequency of action potentials. B) which labeled line is active. C) the specific location of the cortical neuron that is stimulated. D) the specific sensitivity of the peripheral receptor. E) the number of receptors stimulated. 19) Action potentials from receptors involved in general sensations are interpreted in the A) premotor cortex. B) primary sensory cortex. C) general interpretive area. D) mesencephalon. E) reticular activating system. 20) Sensory information from all parts of the body is routed to A) the prefrontal cortex. B) the cerebellum. C) the primary motor cortex. D) the somatosensory cortex. E) Broca's area. 21) The conversion of a sensory input to a change in membrane potential in the receptor is known as A) transduction. B) reception. C) effection. D) potential. E) stimulation. 22) The link between peripheral receptor and cortical neuron is called a(n) A) efferent pathway. B) spinocortical line. C) sympathetic chain. D) adaptation pathway. E) labeled line. 23) A ________ potential is a depolarization of a sensory dendrite that can lead to an afferent nerve impulse if strong enough. A) resting B) refractory C) postsynaptic D) generator E) presynaptic 24) Sensory neurons that adapt quickly are called ________ receptors. A) phasic B) tonic C) intracellular D) chemical-channel E) opioid 25) A reduction in sensitivity in the presence of a constant stimulus is referred to as A) transduction. B) adaptation. C) negation. D) exhaustion. E) transformation. 26) Sensory neurons that are always active are called ________ receptors. A) tonic B) static C) phasic D) isometric E) isotonic 27) You cannot tell when your small intestines shift position as food enters because you do not have any ________ there. A) chemoreceptors B) nociceptors C) proprioceptors D) thermoreceptors E) photoreceptors 28) Receptors in your stomach that determine when food enters because the pH changes would be classified as A) mechanoreceptors. B) nociceptors. C) proprioceptors. D) baroreceptors. E) chemoreceptors. 29) Free nerve endings detect which stimulus/stimuli? A) chemical B) temperature, pain, stretch and touch C) pain only D) stretch E) deep pressure 30) Two types of receptors that are least likely to adapt are the A) proprioceptors and nociceptors. B) free nerve endings and the root hair plexus. C) tactile discs and the free nerve endings. D) lamellar corpuscles and baroreceptors. E) chemoreceptors and baroreceptors. 31) Chemoreceptors of the general senses do not send information to the primary sensory cortex but instead send information to the ________ to control autonomic function. A) cerebellum B) cerebrum C) brain stem D) spinal cord E) corpus callosum 32) A receptor that contains many mechanically-gated ion channels would function best as a A) tactile receptor. B) chemoreceptor. C) photoceptor. D) thermoreceptor. E) light receptor. 33) A mechanoreceptor in the papillary layer of the dermis that responds to fine touch is a A) tactile (Merkel) disc. B) root hair plexus. C) free nerve ending. D) Bulbous corpuscle. E) tactile (Meissner) corpuscle. 34) Which of the following is/are sometimes called "prickling pain"? A) mechanical damage B) proprioception C) extremes of temperature D) fast pain E) fast and slow pain 35) All of the following are true of fast pain sensations except that they A) are carried by type A fibers. B) reach the CNS quickly. C) are interpreted by the pre-frontal cortex. D) receive conscious attention. E) often trigger somatic reflexes. 36) Endorphins can reduce perception of sensations initiated by A) nociceptors. B) mechanoreceptors. C) thermoreceptors. D) chemoreceptors. E) proprioceptors. 37) Receptors that monitor the position of joints belong to the category called A) nociceptors. B) chemoreceptors. C) baroreceptors. D) proprioceptors. E) thermoreceptors. 38) Mechanoreceptors that respond to changes in blood pressure are called A) nociceptors. B) baroreceptors. C) chemoreceptors. D) proprioceptors. E) thermoreceptors. 39) Tactile receptors located in the reticular dermis that are tonic and show little if any adaptation are called A) Bulbous corpuscles. B) lamellar corpuscles. C) tactile (Meissner) corpuscles. D) tactile discs. E) root hair plexuses. 40) A tactile receptor composed of highly coiled dendrites that are surrounded by modified Schwann cells and a fibrous capsule is a A) lamellar corpuscle. B) Bulbous corpuscle. C) tactile (Meissner) corpuscle. D) tactile (Merkel) disc. E) root hair plexus. 41) A very large, fast-adapting tactile receptor that is composed of a single dendrite enclosed by concentric layers of collagen is a A) Bulbous corpuscle. B) lamellar (Pacinian) corpuscle. C) tactile (Meissner) corpuscle. D) tactile (Merkel) disc. E) root hair plexus. 42) Sensations of burning or aching pain A) are carried by type A fibers. B) reach the CNS quickly. C) cause a generalized activation of the reticular formation and the thalamus. D) are well localized. E) are fast adapting. 43) Bladder fullness is to ________ as blood pH is to ________. A) nociceptors; thermoreceptors B) baroreceptors; chemoreceptors C) baroreceptors; nociceptors D) chemoreceptors; nociceptors E) baroreceptors; thermoreceptors 44) A highly sensitive tactile receptor composed of dendritic processes of a single myelinated fiber that makes contact with specialized cells of the stratum basale is a A) lamellar corpuscle. B) tactile (Meissner) corpuscle. C) Bulbous corpuscle. D) tactile (Merkel) disc. E) root hair plexus. 45) A sensory receptor characterized peripherally as a free nerve ending which centrally uses glutamate and/or substance P as neurotransmitters would most likely be a A) chemoreceptor. B) mechanoreceptor. C) thermoreceptor. D) nociceptor. E) free receptor. 46) We are constantly bombarded by a variety of stimuli inside and outside of our bodies. Why are we not overwhelmed by sensory information? A) We do not have receptors for most stimuli. B) Stimuli are blocked from the receptors by our immune systems. C) Most stimuli are external to our bodies and we have very few exteroceptors on the outside of the body. D) A particular receptor type can have different sensitivities to different stimuli. E) A very tiny percentage of incoming sensory information is received by the cerebral cortex. 47) Pain is to ________ as cold is to ________. A) nociceptors; thermoreceptors B) baroreceptors; chemoreceptors C) baroreceptors; nociceptors D) chemoreceptors; nociceptors E) baroreceptors; thermoreceptors 48) If a friend is talking about someone she knows who lost his special senses, you would correct her when you hear her mention ________ because it is not a special sense. A) smell B) sight C) balance D) cold E) hearing 49) ________ are receptors in the aorta that monitor the blood pressure. A) Chemoreceptors D) Proprioceptors B) Nociceptors E) Hair cells C) Baroreceptors 50) Which of the following is a property of thermoreceptors? A) involves specialized receptors B) monitor heat stimuli, not cold C) found in skin only D) project to reticular formation E) cold receptors are less numerous than warm receptors 51) For the last few weeks, you have had an odd sensation on your upper thigh. When you touch the naked skin, it feels very strange, like you are touching your skin through layers of cloth. The surrounding area feels normal. Your doctor thinks that this may be related to spinal nerve damage related to a herniated disc. The doctor calls this change in sensation A) paresthesia. B) anesthesia. C) hypesthesia. D) synesthesia. E) kinesthesia. 52) Chemoreceptors are located in all of the following except A) carotid bodies. B) aortic bodies. C) the skin. D) the organs of taste. E) the organs of smell. 53) Why is it that one cannot identify the location of internal organs, although joints and bone location can be identified? A) The internal organs have no proprioceptors like joints, bones, and muscles. B) Internal organs have no pain receptors. C) Although internal organs have some receptors, the information is not interpreted by the brain. D) Internal organs have no receptors of any kind. E) Sensory information from internal organs is processed by a different part of the brain than the joints, bones, and muscles. 54) Sensory neurons synapse in the CNS with an interneuron known as a A) first-order neuron. D) motor neuron. B) second-order neuron. E) efferent neuron. C) third-order neuron. 55) All of the following pathways require third-order neurons synapsing in the thalamus except A) the lateral spinothalamic tract. B) the anterior spinothalamic tract. C) the anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts. D) the gracile fasciculus. E) the cuneate fasciculus. 56) Which of the following is true of all the sensory pathways? A) They all have third-order neurons. B) They all synapse in the thalamus. C) They all synapse in the cerebellum. D) They all enter through dorsal roots. E) Axons in each pathway decussate. 57) Activity of neurons in the spinothalamic pathway may still send signals even if the first order sensory receptor does not receive a signal such as in amputation. This situation might cause A) referred pain. B) phantom limb pain. C) pain adaptation. D) paresthesia. E) anesthesia. 58) Which ascending tract carries the sensations for fine touch and vibration? A) corticobulbar B) corticospinal C) posterior (dorsal) column D) spinothalamic E) spinocerebellar 59) The spinal tract that relays information concerning pain and temperature to the CNS is the A) gracile fasciculus. B) cuneate fasciculus. C) posterior spinocerebellar. D) lateral spinothalamic. E) anterior spinothalamic. 60) Your uncle was just diagnosed with a heart attack. One of his major symptoms is left arm pain. You are not surprised because you are familiar with the phenomenon of ________ pain. A) referred B) phantom C) psychosomatic D) somatic E) neurogenic 61) Stimulation of a neuron that terminates in the superior region of the left postcentral gyrus would produce A) a sensation in the right leg. B) a sensation in the lips. C) a muscle twitch in the right leg. D) a muscle twitch in the lips. E) both sensations and muscle twitches in the right leg. 62) The spinal tract that relays information concerning crude touch and pressure to the CNS is the A) gracile fasciculus. B) cuneate fasciculus. C) posterior spinocerebellar. D) lateral spinothalamic. E) anterior spinothalamic. 63) Each of the following is an ascending tract in the spinal cord except the A) gracile fasciculus. B) cuneate fasciculus. C) posterior spinocerebellar. D) reticulospinal tract. E) anterior spinothalamic. 64) The afferent neuron that carries the sensation and enters the CNS is a ________ neuron. A) receptor B) first-order C) second-order D) third-order E) fourth-order 65) What loss would result from cutting through the medial lemniscus on the right side? A) loss of pain sensation on the left side of the body B) loss of pain sensation on the right side of the body C) loss of fine touch sensation on the left side of the body D) loss of fine touch sensation on the right side of the body E) complete hemiplegia (paralysis) on the left side of the body 66) Thalamic neurons that project to the primary sensory cortex are ________ neurons. A) receptor B) first-order C) second-order D) third-order E) fourth-order 67) Which neuron delivers sensations to the CNS? A) first-order B) second-order C) third-order D) fourth-order E) sensory receptor 68) We can localize sensations that originate in different areas of the body because A) sensory neurons carry only one modality. B) sensory neurons from specific body regions project to specific cortical regions. C) incoming sensory information is first processed by the thalamus. D) different types of sensory receptors produce action potentials of different sizes and shapes. 0E) of the many types of tactile receptors. Figure 15-1 Spinothalamic Tracts Use Figure 15-1 to answer the following questions: 69) Identify the axon labeled "3." A) axon of a lower motor neuron B) axon of a upper motor neuron C) axon of a first-order neuron D) axon of a second-order neuron E) axon of a ganglionic neuron 70) Where in the spinal cord is the structure labeled "2" located? A) anterior gray horns B) dorsal root ganglion C) anterior white column D) anterior median fissure E) posterior white column 71) Identify the neuron labeled "1." A) lower motor neuron B) upper motor neuron C) first-order neuron D) second-order neuron E) ganglionic neuron 72) Identify the structure labeled "5." A) thalamus B) cerebral cortex C) primary motor cortex D) primary sensory cortex E) autonomic ganglion 73) The third-order neuron in this pathway synapses in what structure labeled "7"? A) cerebellum B) thalamus C) primary sensory cortex D) pons E) medulla oblongata 74) Which structure conducts action potentials directly from a sensory receptor? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 5 E) 7 75) Identify the type of information that travels along the structure labeled "2." A) motor commands to skeletal muscles B) proprioception to the cerebral cortex C) fine touch to the cerebral cortex D) crude touch and pressure sensations E) visceral motor commands to smooth muscle 76) The sense of proprioception passes along the ________ pathway. A) rubriocerebellar B) corticospinal C) spinocerebellar D) decussation pathways E) ganglion 77) In the spinothalamic pathway, the sensory neuron that synapses with a neuron in the cerebral cortex is called the ________ neuron. A) first-order B) second-order C) third-order D) fourth-order E) receptive 78) Ascending tracts in the spinal cord relay ________ information. A) sensory B) motor C) sensory and motor D) only somatic E) autonomic 79) Which of the following is a progressive, degenerative disorder that affects upper and lower motor neurons causing skeletal muscle atrophy? A) cerebral palsy B) stroke C) paralysis D) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis E) multiple sclerosis 80) In motor pathways, the only portion of the pathway that is outside of the CNS is the A) lower motor neuron. B) upper motor neuron. C) axon of the lower motor neuron. D) axon of the upper motor neuron. E) interneuron. 81) Which motor pathway does not end in the spinal cord? A) corticobulbar tract B) corticospinal tract C) vestibulospinal tract D) tectospinal tract E) rubrospinal tract 82) The corticospinal pathway begins in which area of the brain? A) somatosensory cortex B) primary motor cortex C) midbrain D) vestibular nuclei E) red nuclei 83) The motor homunculus shows larger structures in areas of the body that A) have more surface area. B) have more sensory receptors. C) have bigger skeletal muscles. D) are highly sensitive. E) have more motor units. 84) The rubrospinal tracts originate in the A) primary motor cortex. B) vestibular nuclei. C) thalamus. D) red nuclei. E) reticular formation. 85) Which areas of the brain monitor and adjust activities of the motor pathways? A) basal nuclei B) cerebellum C) basal nuclei and cerebellum D) midbrain E) pons 86) The neurons of the primary motor cortex are ________ cells. A) neuroglial B) dendritic C) pyramidal D) cortical E) astrocyte 87) The descending spinal tract that crosses to the opposite side of the body within the medulla oblongata is the ________ tract. A) lateral corticospinal B) anterior corticospinal C) rubrospinal D) reticulospinal E) vestibulospinal 88) The spinal tract that normally plays a role in the subconscious regulation of the muscles of the arms is the ________ tract. A) lateral corticospinal B) anterior corticospinal C) rubrospinal D) reticulospinal E) vestibulospinal 89) Descending (motor) pathways always involve at least ________ motor neuron(s). A) one B) two C) three D) four E) spinal 90) The spinal tract that unconsciously maintains balance and muscle tone is the ________ tract. A) lateral corticospinal B) anterior corticospinal C) rubrospinal D) reticulospinal E) vestibulospinal 91) The medial pathway that controls involuntary movements of head, neck, and arm position in response to sudden visual and auditory stimuli is the ________ tract. A) lateral corticospinal B) tectospinal C) rubrospinal D) reticulospinal E) vestibulospinal 92) The pyramidal system provides A) voluntary control over skeletal muscles. B) voluntary control over smooth muscles. C) involuntary control over skeletal muscles. D) involuntary control over smooth muscles. E) involuntary control over cardiac muscle. 93) Upper motor neurons of the corticospinal tract synapse with neurons in A) autonomic ganglia. B) the anterior gray horns of the spinal cord. C) the spinothalamic tract. D) the lateral gray horns of the spinal cord. E) the dorsal root ganglia. 94) The corticospinal system is often referred to as the A) red nucleus. B) reticular formation. C) spinothalamic tracts. D) pyramidal system. E) medullary centers. 95) The area of the motor cortex that is devoted to a particular region of the body is proportional to the A) size of the body area. B) distance of the body area from the brain. C) number of motor units in that region. D) number of sensory receptors in the area of the body. E) size of the nerves that serve the area of the body. 96) Axons of the corticobulbar tract terminate in the A) sensory neurons. B) somatic motor neurons in the spinal cord. C) autonomic motor neurons in the spinal cord. D) motor nuclei of cranial nerves. E) nuclei in the thalamus. 97) The ________ tract provides subconscious regulation of upper limb muscle tone and movement and is part of the ________ pathway. A) tectospinal; lateral B) rubrospinal; lateral C) reticulospinal; medial D) vestibulospinal; lateral E) corticobulbar; medial 98) Based on the motor homunculus, which of the following body regions has the fewest number of motor units involved? A) tongue B) face C) hands D) back trunk 99) The pyramids on the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata are formed by fibers of the ________ tracts. A) corticospinal B) corticobulbar C) reticulospinal D) vestibulospinal E) tectospinal 100) The basal nuclei A) initiate conscious motor activity. B) activate spinal reflexes. C) provide the background patterns of movement involved in voluntary motor activities. D) exert direct control over lower motor neurons. E) act as gatekeepers, filtering out unnecessary sensorimotor activity. 101) The upper motor neurons of the medial pathway are located within any of the following except the A) vestibular nuclei. B) reticular formation. C) superior colliculi. D) inferior colliculi. E) mammillary bodies. 102) A brain injury to a patient results in facial paralysis. Which descending tract is most likely affected? A) corticospinal tract B) tectospinal tract C) rubrospinal tract D) corticobulbar tract E) reticulospinal tract 103) Some neurons within the basal nuclei are known to A) stimulate neurons with GABA. B) inhibit neurons with GABA. C) stimulate neurons with acetylcholine. D) stimulate neurons with GABA and stimulate neurons with acetylcholine. E) inhibit neurons with GABA and stimulate neurons with acetylcholine. 104) Damage to the pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex would directly affect A) perception of pain. B) sight. C) voluntary motor activity. D) hearing. E) balance. 105) The cerebellum adjusts motor activity in response to all of the following except A) touch sensations. B) visual information. C) equilibrium-related sensations. D) input from the motor cortex. E) input from proprioceptors. 106) Motor neurons whose cell bodies are within the spinal cord are called ________ neurons. A) upper motor B) lower motor C) preganglionic D) postganglionic E) somesthetic 107) Upper motor neurons are located in the A) precentral gyrus. B) postcentral gyrus. C) brain stem. D) spinal cord. E) cerebral hemispheres and the brain stem. 108) Damage to the tectospinal tracts would interfere with the ability to A) position the arms. B) monitor body position. C) make reflex responses of the head and neck in response to sudden movements or loud noises. D) control motor units located in the leg. E) coordinate eating and swallowing movements. 109) Descending tracts in the spinal cord relay ________ information. A) sensory B) motor C) sensory and motor D) only somatic E) autonomic 110) In the corticospinal pathway, the neuron that exits the spinal cord and enters the spinal nerve is called the ________ neuron. A) upper sensory B) lower sensory C) upper motor D) lower motor E) pyramidal Figure 15-2 The Corticospinal Pathway Use Figure 15-2 to answer the following questions: 111) Identify the origin of the axon labeled "2." A) lower motor neuron B) upper motor neuron C) decussation neuron D) second-order neuron E) ganglionic neuron 112) The axon labeled "2" synapses with which structure? A) 1 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) 6 113) Identify the structure labeled "5." A) ventral root B) upper motor neuron C) first-order neuron D) second-order neuron E) dorsal root 114) What occurs in this neural pathway at label "3"? A) synapse B) communication between sensory and motor neurons C) amplification of motor signals D) decussation E) autonomic reflexes 115) Identify the structure labeled "1." A) primary sensory cortex B) primary motor cortex C) thalamus D) autonomic motor center E) basal nuclei 116) Identify the type of information that travels along the structure labeled "4." A) motor commands to skeletal muscles B) proprioception to the cerebral cortex C) fine touch to the cerebral cortex D) pain and crude touch sensations E) visceral motor commands to smooth muscle